Of Water, Land, & Sky is an artist residency program connecting artists with conservation efforts to promote unique dialogue and collaboration between arts and ecology. Glacial Lakes Conservancy is excited to be an active partner in this program — yet another way to engage artists and community members on our protected lands and to see firsthand what we do every day to defend our mission.
Partner link for Of Water Land and Sky here: https://www.ofwaterlandandsky.com/news
We're thrilled to announce our three artists for the 2026 season below! Read all about them below!
Partner link for Of Water Land and Sky here: https://www.ofwaterlandandsky.com/news
We're thrilled to announce our three artists for the 2026 season below! Read all about them below!
Meet Lora Vahlsing. Of Water, Land, & Sky resident artist in 2026.
Drawing from a deep well of meditative practice and ancestral heritage, my work explores the intersection of the natural world and the internal self. Working primarily with thread, canvas, and paper, I approach my practice not as an observer of nature but as a vital participant within it. My goal is not to mimic the landscape, but to acknowledge my place within it; just as a spider weaves a web as an extension of its being, I create art as a functional, organic expression of my existence.
My process is deeply rooted in the disciplines of yoga and meditation. Each stitch and fold is an act of "deep listening"—a state of receptivity where the work is allowed to flow through me rather than being forced by me. I utilize repetition as a ritual to honor and deepen my relationship with specific shapes, patterns, and materials. This rhythmic labor transforms the act of creation into a moving meditation, grounding the work in a spirit of presence and intentionality. To invite the viewer into this contemplative space, I often employ monochromatic palettes. By stripping away the distraction of varied color, I highlight the subtle nuances of design and texture. This aesthetic choice mirrors those rare moments in nature when sunlight hits at a precise angle, suddenly revealing the intricate architecture of a cobweb that was always there, yet hidden.
Beauty is the central pillar of my vision—a beauty that connects me to my Korean ancestry and the timeless patterns of the earth.
Through this residency, I aim to create work that serves as a bridge, inviting others to slow down and recognize their own inextricable link to the environment. In the stillness of the studio and the vibrancy of the land, I weave a testament to our shared belonging.
Drawing from a deep well of meditative practice and ancestral heritage, my work explores the intersection of the natural world and the internal self. Working primarily with thread, canvas, and paper, I approach my practice not as an observer of nature but as a vital participant within it. My goal is not to mimic the landscape, but to acknowledge my place within it; just as a spider weaves a web as an extension of its being, I create art as a functional, organic expression of my existence.
My process is deeply rooted in the disciplines of yoga and meditation. Each stitch and fold is an act of "deep listening"—a state of receptivity where the work is allowed to flow through me rather than being forced by me. I utilize repetition as a ritual to honor and deepen my relationship with specific shapes, patterns, and materials. This rhythmic labor transforms the act of creation into a moving meditation, grounding the work in a spirit of presence and intentionality. To invite the viewer into this contemplative space, I often employ monochromatic palettes. By stripping away the distraction of varied color, I highlight the subtle nuances of design and texture. This aesthetic choice mirrors those rare moments in nature when sunlight hits at a precise angle, suddenly revealing the intricate architecture of a cobweb that was always there, yet hidden.
Beauty is the central pillar of my vision—a beauty that connects me to my Korean ancestry and the timeless patterns of the earth.
Through this residency, I aim to create work that serves as a bridge, inviting others to slow down and recognize their own inextricable link to the environment. In the stillness of the studio and the vibrancy of the land, I weave a testament to our shared belonging.
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Meet Mel Kolstad. Of Water, Land, & Sky resident artist in 2026.
Mel Kolstad is an artist, speaker, instructor, and arts advocate who makes her home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
She is a collagist, printmaker, and papermaker, specializing in collages incorporating hand-dyed papers and fabrics, and forms of printmaking including intaglio, pressure prints, gel prints and linocuts.
She is also delighted to be a member of ArtSpace Collective in Oshkosh; Free Range Art in Grafton; Open Door Artists in Fond du Lac; and Wisconsin Craft. She is the volunteer curator for the Langdon Divers Gallery, located inside the Fond du Lac Public Library. She teaches various art classes to people of all ages, all around the state.
Mel Kolstad is an artist, speaker, instructor, and arts advocate who makes her home in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
She is a collagist, printmaker, and papermaker, specializing in collages incorporating hand-dyed papers and fabrics, and forms of printmaking including intaglio, pressure prints, gel prints and linocuts.
She is also delighted to be a member of ArtSpace Collective in Oshkosh; Free Range Art in Grafton; Open Door Artists in Fond du Lac; and Wisconsin Craft. She is the volunteer curator for the Langdon Divers Gallery, located inside the Fond du Lac Public Library. She teaches various art classes to people of all ages, all around the state.
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Meet Sarah Eichhorn. Of Water, Land, & Sky resident artist in 2026.
Sarah is a fiber artist and sustainable living advocate based in Milwaukee, WI. She received her BFA in Fashion Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, and her MFA in Costume Design from Florida State University.
Sarah is drawn to creating pieces of art that utilize natural colors and fibers while pushing herself towards zero waste with her materials. She has led various workshops on natural dye and eco-printing techniques, as well as facilitated lectures on sustainable fashion. Through her personal practice, Sarah hopes to inspire others to consider where their coloring comes from and how we can collectively become more invested in the clothes we wear. Aside from her formal fashion and costume background she is also an avid urban gardener and homesteader.
Sarah is a fiber artist and sustainable living advocate based in Milwaukee, WI. She received her BFA in Fashion Design from the International Academy of Design and Technology in Chicago, and her MFA in Costume Design from Florida State University.
Sarah is drawn to creating pieces of art that utilize natural colors and fibers while pushing herself towards zero waste with her materials. She has led various workshops on natural dye and eco-printing techniques, as well as facilitated lectures on sustainable fashion. Through her personal practice, Sarah hopes to inspire others to consider where their coloring comes from and how we can collectively become more invested in the clothes we wear. Aside from her formal fashion and costume background she is also an avid urban gardener and homesteader.
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